Bow Levy Garrison

These light infantry archers are used to screen a front line, and harass enemies with long range arrow volleys.

Levies do not possess the prowess or prestige of samurai but they are still a formidable force. The numerical size of this unit allows it to provide mass fire support. Once hand-to-hand fighting starts bow levies should retreat to safety behind the battle line, as they are not trained or equipped for melee. They must also be wary near cavalry, as they have little chance of survival when charged by horsemen.

Japanese bows at the time of the Gempei War can generally be classified as “long bows” although they differ in a number of ways from their European counterparts. The most obvious difference was the position of the grip, but they were also “composites”, made from several different materials, rather than “self-bows” made from a single piece of wood. The bows had to be long to generate power but if the grip had been central it would have been impossible to use the bow from horseback. The lower section would always become entangled with the horse or the saddle. By moving the grip downwards, the asymmetric design allowed the bows to be used easily by mounted archers while keeping them enormously powerful.

Unit Name

Bow Levy Garrison

Unit Key

Genpei_Inf_Missile_Bow_Levy_Garrison

Soldiers

120

Category

Ranged Infantry

Class

Bow Infantry

Multiplayer Cost

250

└ Multiplayer Limit

0

Recruitment Cost

300

├ Recruitment Turns

1

└ Unit Limit

0

Unkeep Cost

0

Melee Attack

2

└ Melee Weapon

sabre

Charge Bonus

1

Bonus vs Cavalry

0

Range

150

├ Missile Weapon

bow

└ Projectile

shogun_arrow

Accuracy

15

Reloading Skill

20

Ammunition

25

Melee Defence

1

Armour

1

Morale

3

Abilities

Flaming ArrowsThis unit can fire flaming arrows for a short period of time. Flaming arrows have a greater damage effect and can set fire to flammable objects. Flaming arrows don't function in wet weather.

ScreensA shield that can be erected during the deployment phase when you are defending. It impedes the movement of enemies, and blocks enemy projectiles.